'Paedophile row' head is sacked

Kathleen Tyson was dismissed for gross misconduct by the governing body at Holy Trinity Primary School, Darwen, following a disciplinary hearing.

She was suspended and escorted off the premises in January after education officials and police launched a probe into work carried out for the website by a man on the sex offender's register.

Her union, the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), has confirmed that Mrs Tyson knew the man was a convicted sex offender when she asked him to carry out "text" based work.

But it stressed that he had never entered the school premises or come into contact with children.

The union said Mrs Tyson, who joined the Darwen school as head from a school in Leyland two years ago, was considering appealing against her sacking.

Police have examined computer equipment seized from a private address and a spokesman said investigations were "ongoing" into whether there had been any criminal activity.

Concerned opposition councillors have now demanded that Blackburn with Darwen Council explains how the situation could happen and exactly why Mrs Tyson had left the Bank Top School.

But council chiefs said they were not able to give details of the reason for her departure as she could appeal.

They insisted that school leaders were well aware of their responsibilities in terms of checking workers' backgrounds.

NAHT regional officer Ian Beck said: "She has been dismissed and is currently considering whether to appeal.

"At no stage did the man involved come into contact with children or go onto the school premises.

The council found that it was her association with him that brought her school into disrepute.

"He had done some work involving text on the school website. He is on the sex offenders' register. She knew that, yes."

Peter Morgan, the council's director of children's services, said: "Head teacher Kathleen Tyson has been dismissed following a disciplinary hearing. The outcome is subject to a right to appeal and we can not comment further."

But Coun Roy Davies, a ward member for Sudell, said: "The council needs to explain to parents what's gone on. As a governor of Darwen Moorland School even I have to be checked against the Criminal Records Bureau.

"It is OK for the council to say they have procedures in place but someone has slipped through the net and I am extremely concerned. The council must give guarantees this will not happen again."

Mr Morgan said all young people who work with children were subject to strict screening.

He added: "People who work with children and young people have to go through Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks before they can start work. We also have a whistle blowing policy which means all staff working with children and young people have a professional duty to report any concerns that they have."

The borough's Tory leader, Coun Colin Rigby said only schools could ensure that the guidelines weren't breached.

"It's a straight forward process, if you do work involving children you must go through CRB checks. We, as councillors, do. I think I would be charitable to say that the headteacher has been foolish.

"Due to the autonomy schools have I don't think the council could guarantee it wouldn't happen again but schools are well aware of their responsibilities."

Anyone whose name appears on the sex offenders register is barred from working with children as are those on List 99 - which contains the names, dates of birth and teacher reference numbers of people whose employment in schools has been barred or restricted on grounds of misconduct.

Darwen MP Janet Anderson declined to comment on Mrs Tyson's sacking or the wider issue of school staff checks.

Mrs Tyson has 10 working days to appeal. A panel of three governors would hear any appeal, normally within 20 days.

Liz Beaumont, head at Blackburn's Cedars Infant School, who has a track record as a troubleshooter, has been appointed by the borough council to take charge until the investigation and possible appeal hearing have been resolved.